Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 4:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10:34 p.m.

LAKELAND | Three Lakeland middle-schoolers are accused of planning a campus bombing, although police say they uncovered the plot before any weapon materials were acquired.

The students, two girls and one boy, all are enrolled at Sleepy Hill Middle School in North Lakeland. All have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and conspiracy to construct destructive devices.

Also charged in connection with the bomb plot are Gisselle Ocampo Mendoza, 12, of 1200 N. Davis Ave., and Nicholas Christakos, 13, of 4101 Chelsea Lane.

Policastro said it's too early to know whether any of the students will be charged as adults.

Polk School District officials said Friday they would initiate a telephone robocall Friday evening informing parents whose children attend Sleepy Hill Middle about the arrests. Crisis counselors will be on campus next week for students who want to talk about the incident.

Also on Friday, Leah Lauderdale, senior director of the School District's department of strategic communications/community relations, released a statement, thanking Lakeland police and Sleepy Hill staff for quick and efficient work.

"We are always saddened when we hear of arrests of young people, and we hope these students receive the help they need to turn their lives around," she said. "We commend the Lakeland Police Department and will continue to follow their lead to take the proper precautions."

Speaking to the media Friday afternoon at police headquarters, Policastro described what he called a serious effort by the three students to map out plans for acquiring bomb-making materials and detonating one or more devices somewhere on campus, perhaps the cafeteria, on an unspecified date.

He said detectives found evidence of internet research on bombs and constructing bombs, although the students had not acquired any materials for making a device.

"They would have to have the means, the money," Policastro said, adding that it was questionable if any of the three was capable of building a bomb and setting it off.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Policastro said, many details of the alleged plot, including the type of explosive device, will not be made public at this time. He said he did not know of any specific targets the students intended to harm, although investigators believe the trio "felt certain people needed to be hurt physically."

Policastro outlined the following scenario:

On April 2 a school counselor discovered a notebook containing disturbing information and alerted the school resource officer, who called detectives.

Based on interviews and a search of the students' homes, arrest warrants were issued.

Police do not think any other students were involved in the plan, which was sophisticated enough to warrant the charges.

"To our knowledge no purchases were made," Policastro said. "We were fortunate to have the opportunity to be aware of this early on."

Relatives of several of the students said they were shocked by the charges.

Zuzaly Montalvo, 21, said her sister, Zulamita, a seventh-grader, had plenty of friends, and was a B and C student incapable of hurting anyone. She said she doesn't believe the charges. "The police have it wrong."

Speaking in broken English, Blanca Mendoza said her daughter, Gisselle, also a seventh-grader, is innocent, and was influenced by Zulamita. "I'm working with a lawyer about this case," she said. "This is not a good time because she has problems, and I'm not feeling good."

She said Gisselle was resting at home.

It was unclear Friday if the boy, Nicholas, had been released or was still being held at a Bartow juvenile detention facility.

<p>LAKELAND | Three Lakeland middle-schoolers are accused of planning a campus bombing, although police say they uncovered the plot before any weapon materials were acquired.</p><p>The students, two girls and one boy, all are enrolled at Sleepy Hill Middle School in North Lakeland. All have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and conspiracy to construct destructive devices.</p><p>Zulamita Montalvo, 13, of 2511 Cresap St., whom police described as the ringleader, was arrested Thursday at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where she's being treated for mental health issues, said Lakeland police Capt. Greg Policastro.</p><p>Also charged in connection with the bomb plot are Gisselle Ocampo Mendoza, 12, of 1200 N. Davis Ave., and Nicholas Christakos, 13, of 4101 Chelsea Lane. </p><p>Policastro said it's too early to know whether any of the students will be charged as adults.</p><p>Polk School District officials said Friday they would initiate a telephone robocall Friday evening informing parents whose children attend Sleepy Hill Middle about the arrests. Crisis counselors will be on campus next week for students who want to talk about the incident.</p><p>Also on Friday, Leah Lauderdale, senior director of the School District's department of strategic communications/community relations, released a statement, thanking Lakeland police and Sleepy Hill staff for quick and efficient work.</p><p>"We are always saddened when we hear of arrests of young people, and we hope these students receive the help they need to turn their lives around," she said. "We commend the Lakeland Police Department and will continue to follow their lead to take the proper precautions."</p><p>Speaking to the media Friday afternoon at police headquarters, Policastro described what he called a serious effort by the three students to map out plans for acquiring bomb-making materials and detonating one or more devices somewhere on campus, perhaps the cafeteria, on an unspecified date.</p><p>He said detectives found evidence of internet research on bombs and constructing bombs, although the students had not acquired any materials for making a device.</p><p>"They would have to have the means, the money," Policastro said, adding that it was questionable if any of the three was capable of building a bomb and setting it off.</p><p>Because the investigation is ongoing, Policastro said, many details of the alleged plot, including the type of explosive device, will not be made public at this time. He said he did not know of any specific targets the students intended to harm, although investigators believe the trio "felt certain people needed to be hurt physically."</p><p>Policastro outlined the following scenario:</p><p>On April 2 a school counselor discovered a notebook containing disturbing information and alerted the school resource officer, who called detectives.</p><p>Based on interviews and a search of the students' homes, arrest warrants were issued.</p><p>Police do not think any other students were involved in the plan, which was sophisticated enough to warrant the charges.</p><p>"To our knowledge no purchases were made," Policastro said. "We were fortunate to have the opportunity to be aware of this early on."</p><p>Relatives of several of the students said they were shocked by the charges.</p><p>Zuzaly Montalvo, 21, said her sister, Zulamita, a seventh-grader, had plenty of friends, and was a B and C student incapable of hurting anyone. She said she doesn't believe the charges. "The police have it wrong."</p><p>Speaking in broken English, Blanca Mendoza said her daughter, Gisselle, also a seventh-grader, is innocent, and was influenced by Zulamita. "I'm working with a lawyer about this case," she said. "This is not a good time because she has problems, and I'm not feeling good."</p><p>She said Gisselle was resting at home. </p><p>It was unclear Friday if the boy, Nicholas, had been released or was still being held at a Bartow juvenile detention facility.</p>